Automobile traffic-signaling apparatus



ay B. MEYROWITZ AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "Eli" will 22 Qwvantbz I Be/y'a/zu'm Qua/mea ay B. MEYROWITZ AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Ailg. 17, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5] vvuem to z flay/01111? Bel/M77172 flame 130 wzm 1,627,545 May 1927" B. MEYROWITZ AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 amveutoz Bwya/m'm fly/ $3M 1M Que emai v Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN MEYROWI TZ, OF NEW YORK, N.

AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC-SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed August, 1926. Serial No. 129,680.

signal light, if any, are associated in close proximity to each other, frequently in a single basing usually mounted on the left rear fender or in the middle of the sparetire or tire carrier. In this practice, it .is frequently difficult, if not impossible, in tratlic conditions to satisfactorily distinguish or discriminate the turn light from the stop light or from the tail light, unless the signals are viewed from close proximity of the automobile and even then, the conscious attention of the driver is required to distinguish one signal from the other.

This limitation is a consequence of 'a principle elementary to optometrists and ophthalmologists that for normal vision the outline of a black object on a white. background, can be distinguished under daylight conditions only when it subtends an angle of not less than 5. minutes upon the retina. and the individual elements or parts of a letter or other symbol can be distingui:;lied only when subtending an angle of not less than 1 minute upon the retina. In practice, however, the conditions of operation are less favorable, for, the signal windows are colored, usually red or green, the source of light is an incandescent lamp rather than daylight, and, as statistics show, the majority of people have subnormal vision. For all -three of these reasons,'if the signal lights are to be entirely effective, the signal windows and letters mu "1. be so large or wide as to subtend upon the retina. at the maximum distance at which the signal is to be discriminated. amaterially larger angle than under the ideal conditions previously stated.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide signaling means to reliably, unmistakably and discriminatingly indicate ata .ul:stantial distance, without objectionable glare, however, one of a number of contiguous signals, without the need for employing any unusually large and expensive device for the purpose or adding elaborate mechanical contraptions, but, on the contrary, employing as the luminous source, the same electric light bulb heretofore used in automobile s gnal lights, in a casing differing but little, if at all, in general construction and dimensions from those in common use.

Another ob ect is to afford a. reliable signal of the type indicated, the'reading or interpretation of which requires no direct vision on the part of the personor persons to whom the signal is addressed, but, on the contrary, will stimulate indirect vision by the peripheral parts of the retina, that is, will protrude itself 'upon the consciousness, though the attention be directed elsewhere.

Another object is to provide a signal, eliminating the inconvenience and ambiguity and ineffectiveness in night driving, of the practice of extending the hand from the WlIlLlOW to signal a turn, a stop or a reverse.

According to the invention, the signal light casing is provided with a suitable projecting system for causing light from the ordinary signal bulb to be projectedin the form of a fo'cused' beam, to intercept a part of the vehicle wall or of the ground closely contiguous to the vehicle in a sharp luminous area, intensified by the screen effect of the vehicle wall or ground respectively, thereby producing a signal, which cannot but be" recognized and discriminated without conscious mental operation.

In a preferred embodiment, my objects are accompiished by providing the casing enclosing the turn signal light, for instance, with a light projecting system for directing preferably from the same source of light that illuminates" the turn signal light window, a downwardly inclined narrow fan-shaped beam, which will intersect the ground, to sharply define thereona narrow elongated lu'nrnous streak, beginning-in close proximity to the side of the vehicle and extending transversely outward therefrom. Such streak being in close proximity to the turn signal light window is immediately associated tlierewithby those to whom the signal is addressed and is readily visible at a substantial distance, and so obtrusive that it cannot be ignored even when viewed from the peripheral part of the retina of the eye.

Any appropriate projecting system may be employed to effect the streak noted. I prefer to accompllshthe result by the use of a lens system, comprising asingle lens having the light source substantially at the focus thereof, said lens with a substantial convergmg eflect in the horizontal meridla'n and with little or no converging effect with respect to the light in the vertical meridian, the light and lens being so arranged with respect to each other that the fan-shaped beam is inclined downwardly at an angle sufficient to produce the streak described. In the preferred specific construction, a cylindrical lens is employed inclined outwardly at the correspondingly shaped casing end. the light source being preferably disposed near the principal focus, and to advantage nearest to focus at the upper edge of the lens.

Where the turn signal light is disposed near the rear of the vehicle, regardless whether or not it is associated with the stop light, the streak pro ected by my turn light affords a desirable backing up light for illuminating the floor, the adjacent wall of the runway and the door jamb of a garage in backing thereinto.

The signal streak device is applicable not only to the turn signal light, but also to the stop signal, to discriminate the latter more readily from the tail light, the streak in the latter case being preferably projected to extend longitudinally rearward from the vehicle or along the body of the vehicle.

In another application, especially useful in connection with large interurban trucks, the signal light unit may be disposed upon the rear wall of the vehicle and the lens system may be arranged to project the narrow beam as a streak extending horizontally along the substantial expanse of the rear wall rather than on the ground.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features ofthe invention,

Fig. 1 is a rear diagrammatic viewof an automobile indicating a signaling 'unit mounted on the left fender and showing the manner of projection of the streak,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale, indicatingthe external appearance of the signal unit shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of anautomobile indicating the side and rear signal streaks,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a view indicating the arrangement on a license plate bar, of an alternative embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view indicating another specific application of the invention,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view indi eating a stop light application,

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the embodiment of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. l indieating an application to trucks, and,

taken Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown illustratively a signal light easing of more or less conventional form, said casing being generally trapezoidal in shape with downwardly converging lateral walls 10, a shorter curved lower wall 11 and a longer upper wall 12. Centrally near the lower wall of the casing is the tail light bulb 1 3. Near the right-hand of the casing is a stop light signalbulb 14 and near the left end, a turn light signal bulb 15. The casing is provided with partitions 16 and 17 which prevent commingling of the rays from the respective bulbs. The casing is provided with a fa ce plate 18 having appropriate window plates therein, associated with the respective lights, so that when circuit to one of these lights is closed, only the corresponding window will be illuminated. The window 19 of'the tail light is preferably circular, the window 20 of the stop light is trapezoidal, and the window 21 of the turn light is preferably in the shape of an arrow, although it may be in the form of letters or in any other appropriate shape. Preferably an arcuate window 22 is provided at the bottom of the casing below the bulb 13 through which light will pass to illuminate the license plate 23 immediately below the casing, to which the casing is preferably clamped, as best shown in Fig. 1. The construction thus far described in itself is not my invention and is more or less conventional.

According to my invention, I preferably dispose in the inclined left hand Wall 10 of the casing a cylindrical lens 24. This lens preferably has an integral rim 25 encased within a flange 26 formed from the casing and has its curved area 27 protruding from the frame. The lens has its straight rectilinear non-converging meridian extending in the upright plane along the height of the casing and its cur vature'extending horizontally or transversely of the casing. The filament of the light bulb 15 is disposed preferably at or slightly less than the principal focal distance from the luminous source and but little nearer the lens than the principal focal line 7% thereof. By the arrangement described, it will be apparent that there is little or no convergence or refraction in the vertical plane and a fan-shaped beam is, accordingly, projected syn'mietrically with respect to the downwardly inclined prineipal axis-a-a of the cylindrical lens. as appears most clearly from Figs. 1 and 3. The convergence in the horizontal meridian causes the beam to be narrow in horizontal cross-section, as appears best from Fig. 4- at a. The beam will, accordingly, intercept the ground, to form a narrow highly luminous streak extending transversely outward degree of convergence decreases progres sively to a minimum, for those rays directed to the lower edgeot' the lens. HoWever,,-as'

best seen in Fig. 1, the' lower rays have a shorter path-of travel before they reach the ground than have the upper ones, so that the beam is of uniform intensity throughout its The projecting system, it will be seen, distorts the image of the filament to a greater extent in one meridian than it does in the other, and directs the beam sothat the distor-ted filament image is projected as an illuminatedconcehtrated light pattern upon the ground orother light intensifying screen.

In adesirable specific manner of carrying the invention into practice,' I may employ a cylindrical, lens 2 inches high and 2 inches wide ofi, focal length of 4inc'hes, and dispose the ifliiminous filament at a distance of sayji ii'inches from the upper edge of the lens,-aind 3 inches from the lower edge of the lens. \Vith the cylindrical lens inclined at' about to degrees with respectto the ground, and at a level of 2 .feet above the ground, the streak projected upon the grount will be 8 to 10 inches in width and 8 to 10 feet in length. The streak is of intensity so sharp that it is immediately and readily visible. from a-subst'antial dis tance of li-to 200 feet or more and will not be drowned out or noticeably dimmeth,

even by the headlights of adjacent automobiles, nor will it surfer materiallyin brightness when used on a dark or light absorb-'v mg road. Of course, the dimenslons-and. relations specified are merely lllustratlve,

and the result may be accomplished by projection systems-0t other more or less equivalent specifications. It is preferred, however, to provide a streak of lengtlr not much The streak source of light and by reason of the approximation thereof to focus. The projected streak cannot be mistaken for a search light or spot light or headlight or parking or other light.

My turn signal streak when disposed, as preferred, at the rear of the vehicle, serves eflectively to illuminate the floor, the adjai cent wall of the runway and the door jamb of a garage in backing into the same.

In use, I may interlock the turn signal switch with the steering mechanism, but inasmuch as it is desirable to efiect the signal well in advance of commencing the tnrn,'I

prefer. to control the turn -'signal f svyitch by a distinct manual opcrationconven'fently executedafroni near the steering wheeler. post. The turn signal switch is advantageously interlocked with the reverse gear in any familiar well-understood manner, inasemuch as a reverse operation usually pre-Y cedes a turn. y 184, As will be immediately apparent, the in-'- vention dispenses entirely witlrtlie annoyance of requiring the driver to extend his.

hand through the open Window, with the utter ineflectivenessof such signal in night i driving, and with the ambiguity of such hand signal, serving as lt does to indicate a. right turn, aleft turn, a stop or a reverse.

"While a single arrow window pointing toward the left, and a corresponding streak may satisfactorily serve to indicate both a left and right turn, 'dst as the extended left hand has served in the past, I have shown in Figs. 5-and 6, an alternative embodiment in which separate and distinct arrows and corresponding luminous streaks are employed for each side. In this embodiment, it will be seen that the tail light bulb 30 is disposed near the lower edge of the casing'and'enclosed by a partition 31, substantially as in 'Fig. 2 and the stop light within a partition 33 near the upper edge, a median wall 34 separating the chamber 35, at the left, enclosing the left hand signal bulb 36 from the corresponding chamber 37 at the right enclosing the right-hand signal bulb 38; Lenses 39 and @0 respectively are provided ,in the downwardly inclined lateral faces of the basing, each to project a streak in the corresponding direction, depending on W which of' 'the' turn signal light circuits is closed. F ig- 6 shows the appearance of the v left and rightarrow windows 41 and 42 respectively; and the corresponding stop lightwindow 43 and tail light window 44, all in a unitary facing plate 45 for the bulb enclosing lens-carrying casing 46. I It will befunderstood that in each em bodiment, if the design of thec'asing re quires a curved rather than a straight end face,the cylindrical lens may be correspondingly-curved along its axis tdfitsin such frame, without efiecting any substaigtial change in the refractive characteristics thereof. For this purpose, the curve should approximate an arc of a circle of-radiu"'s equal to the focus length of the lens.

In Fig, 7 is shown an alternative arrangement for employing my turnsignal light as a separate unit capable of being conven- According to the present invention, a generally trapezoidal casing 52 is provided with an arrow window face plate 53 which is mounted with its one inclined face contiguoiis to or in contact with the inclined face of the triangular casing and is clamped to bar 51 as at 55. The casing 52 has at its outer lateral face 56 the cylindrical projecting lens 57, identical with that shown in Fig.

2 and described. for projecting upon the ground a streak identical with the prev-ionsly describedk The light bulb 58 as in other embodiments is near the fo-al line of lens 57 and serves to illuminate window \Vliile but one of the turn signal lights need be used, I have also shown inFig. 7 a right turn signal casing 59 similanto that described and similarly clamped at.- (30 to the license bar to the right of the stop .turn signal casing. Each part may lTQ used sep: rate'ly in any appropriate position. as for iiistance. the left arrow on the left tender. the

stop light in the center andthe right arrow on the right fender.

In Fig. 8 is shown an arrangementof left and right turn signal casings 1 and 62 re spectively identical with those shown in Fi 7, but one superposed directly over the other and both secured by a common strap 63 to a common support (not shown) which as in Fi 7 may be the license plate supporting bar. Other combinations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In Figs. 9.and 10., .1 have shown an applh cation of my invention to a combination stop-reverse light. I have shown int-hese views a common form of tail light casing'65.

mounting in the lower enth. thereof. a tail light bulb 66 and having at therea'r fa e thereof. a generally rectilinear window (37 usually red; which becomes luminous when the stop light circuit is'closed. In -this-embodiment, I have shown below the stop light window a lens 68 preferably a cylindrical lens of the same character as that shown in Fig. 2 inclined rearwardand downward in the mounted position and disposed in such manner that its focal line is substantially at the incandescent filament of the lamp 66. preferably in the general relation desnihed. in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. Itfollows as is immediately apparent. that when the stop light or backing-up light circuit isclosed. not only does the window 67 become luminous, but there is projected. a longitudinal luminous streak as in Fig. 4, rearwardly from the vehicle which is, of course, immediately associated in the mind with the stop light. The illumination is, moreover, helpful in backing up. The stop light streak being operated froin the usual stop light bulb, the circuit controlling the same is governed in linown manner from the brake pedal, the li'ttliSIillSSHHi lever, the reverse lever, or in any other desired manner.

The stop light streak lens can be readily employed in the embodiments of Figs. 1 2, 5 and 6.

In Figs. 11 and 12 l have shown an application of the invention, especially suitable for-heavy interurban passenger trucks, in which the streak is projected not upon the ground butanpon the body of the. truck itself, preferably upon the rear wall. In the specific embodiment. illustratively shown. the light casing 70 is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig-5 and is mounted illustratively. centrally of the back of the vehicle and associated with the license plate immediately therebelow. The face plate of the casing is illustratively shown with a tail light window 7 .1, a stop light window 72 and left and right turn signal arrow windows 72, and H respectively. The ends of the casing. ac shown. cxtend obliquely inward toward each other in back of the face panel and each has a cfv'lindr'it-al lens 75 therein, the curvature of whicliin this embodiment is in the vertical meridian in the mounted device and the straight non-reflectingelement of which is in the horizontal meridian. It follows from the arrangement described that the light bulb TG-associated with each of the lenses and disposed substantially at the focus thereof, will project through the lens, a beam diverging horizontally in the shape of a fan, and narrow in the vertical plane, which will intersect the back of the vehicle ata point in close proximity to the casing and cast thereon a. sharply defined horizontal luminous streak designating a turn signal.

It is, of course, understood that in the last embodiment as in that of Figs. 2 and 3, I may employ a single arrow'used to designate both left and right turns. In that case it would be preferable to mount the unit at the right hand of the vehicle, so that for each turn, the streak would extend from the right edge out tou-ard the left of the vehicle.

\Vhile l have shown and prefer the cylindrical lens specifically described and shown, it will be understood that I may employ other projecting lenses orprojecting systems of more or less equivalent eflectdnrv invention from its broadest aspects residing essentially in projecting a sharply defined luminous area. preferably a streak, upon the ground or upon the vehicle; preferably extending from the close proximity of the light with WllIClI it is to be associated, so that the association in the minds of those to whom the signal is addressed, will be unfailing,

and more particularly. in which the light in question is used in close proximity of other signal lights, for other purposes with respect to which the distinguishing luminous streak serves to readily discriminate.

It is understood that I could, instead of a tures of this invention are embodied, and Y which apparatus in its action attains the va-' rious objects of the invention and is well.

suited to meet the requirements of practi'cal use.

above. construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intcnded tha-t all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanyingjdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative' and not in a limiting sense;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to ters Patent 1s: v

1. A luminous device for an automobile secure by Let-- comprising a casing adapted to be secured in upright position upon an automobile, said *asing having a source of light therein, a signal window in said casing rendered luminous by said source. said-casing having a cylindrical lenscdisp osed with its focal line substantially at the source of light and arranged with respect to said source to project aifan-shaped beam having its axis inclined with respect to the vehicle, so that a flat surface associated with the vehicle and contiguous to said window, will intensify the narrow streak of light which is the intersection of said beam with said surface.

21 A turn signallight comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on an automobile and having a source of light therein, said casing including a window at the face-of the casing rendered luminous bythe soiirce and a downwardly inclined lens at an end of the casing, said lens having littleor no converging effect on the light in its vertical meridian'and having a conyerging effect in its horizontalmer1d1an, whereby muse the lens .will project a downwardly inclined fan-shaped beain intercepting the ground to form a narrow bright streak thereon beginning contiguous to the vehicle.

3. A turn signal for an automobile comprising a casing having a light therein, a

turn signal window at theface of said casing rendered luminous by said light, an outward, downwardly inclined cylindrical lens at tlie'eiid of said casing, said light being As many changes could be made in the substantially at the focal line of said lens whereby the lens will project a narrow fansliaped beam intercepting the ground to' define a narrow luminous streak thereon, extending outwardly from the side of the vehicle;

4. A turn signal devicecomprising a casing adapted to be mounted near the rear of a motor vehicle, an outward, downwardly in-j clincd cyl ndrical lens at an end of said casing, a lamp in said casing having its filament substantially at the principal focal line of said lens, whereby a fan-shaped beam will vbe]projected to intercept the ground as lateraly directedstreak inclose proximity to the Vehicle, said streak light pattern constituting the distorted but complete image of the filament. ,5. A signal for an automobile comprising 'acasing havinga source of light therein,

a window at the face of the casing rendered luminous by saidlight and signifying a turn, an outward,downwardly inclined cylindrical'lens having itsconverging meridian arranged horizontally, said light substan tially at the focal line of said lens whereby in use the flash of saidluminous window \villbe accompanied by a sharply defined narrow luminous .streak extending trans vcrsely outwardly from the vehicle, said streak being the intersection with the ground of the downwardly inclined fan-shaped beam projected by the device. H 6. A. signal light device comprising a plurality of associated signal windows each havwindows in such close cont-iguity as to be likely to be mistaken one for the other, the

wi'ndow of one of said signal lights having associated therewith a light projecting system for casting a luminous pattern of light extending from the neighborhood of the correspondingwindow along a flat surface adjacent the light and thereby forming a readi- 1y discriminated signal. P i

[Signaling means on an automobile and of the type con'iprising a number of closely contiguous windows each with an associated source of light, said windows including a tail light, a stop light and a turn signal, said windows being of character such as to be easily mistaken one for the other, the combination in which the turn light signal includes a lens projecting system at the end of the corresponding casing portion, said system having a substantial converging effect in a horizo'ntal meridian and little or no converging efiect in the vertical meridian,

ing a characteristic significance, said signal being anelongated the signal light for the turn signal being a turn signal indicating window at the left,

light sources confined within said casing associated each with one only of the corresponding windows, the combination in which said casing has an outward, downwardly inclined lens at the left end thereof with the turn signal light source substantially at thefocus of said lens, said lens having with respect to said light source a substantialwon- I verging effect in a horizontal meridian and a,

much lesser effect in the vertical meridian whereby in use of the turn signal the illumination of the corresponding window 'will be accompanied by the projection'of a sharply defined narrow luminous streak extending transversely outwardly from the vehicle along the ground.

9. A signaling unit for a. motor vehicle and of the type comprising a casing of generally trapezoidal form with its lateral edges converging downwardly, said casing having a tail light window centrally of the lower part. thereof, a stop light window at the right endthcreof and a turn signal arrow window at the left thereof, light bulbs within the casing associated -one with each window, each screened or isolated from the other windows, the combination in which the left outwardly inclined end of the casing has, a cylindrical lens therein with its converging effect in the horizontal meridian, said turn signal light source being disposed substantially along the focal line of the lens.

10. A turn signal unit comprising a casing having a turn signal arrow window in the face thereof, saidcasing having a converging lens at an end thereof, a source of light within the casing disposed at the focus of said lens and adapted to render said window luminous, said lens being arranged-with respect to said source of light to project a down 'ardly inclined beam, said lens having its converging effect, in the horizontal meridian and little or no converging effect in the-,vertical meridian.

11. A combined turn signal and backing up light comprising a casing adapted to be eral aperture in said casing and a common source of light for said projecting system and for said window, whereby in use as a turn signal a sharply defined light pattern will be flashed contiguous to the illuminated window and whereby in use asa backing up light the illuminated window will aid in lighting the roadway rearwardly of therehide and the projected beam will afford intense illumination laterally of the vehicle.

12. A luminous signal device adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle and serving to indicate a change in the motion thereof, said device comprising a casing with a signal window at the face thereof, said casing having a light projecting system therein including an aperture distinct from said window, said system adapted to direct the beam of light produced thereby through said aperture inan-oblique direction for interception in eloseproximity to said casing by a surface associated with the vehicle, and a common source of light for said projecting system and for said window, whereby the illuminated window and the intensified illumination due to the intercepted beam jointly will constitute a discriminating vehicle motion change signal. 7 i

13. A turn signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted near the rear of a vehicle and having a 'turn signal window in the face thereof, and also having a converging light projecting system directed laterally thereof and downwardly to project upon the-ground a sharply defined elongated light pattern closely associated with the,

turn signal window, and means for simultaneously providing light for said window and said projecting system.

14. Signaling means on' an automobile, and of the type comprising a number of closely contiguous windows, each with an associated source of light, said windows including a tail light, a stop light and a turn signal, said windows being of character such as to,be easily mistaken in use. one for the other; the combination in which the turn light signal includes alight projecting system having an aperture at the end of the correspondingcasing portion. said system distorting the image of the filament to a greater extcnt'in. one meridian than in the other and directing the beam downward to project upon the ground an elongated concentrated light pattern, constituting the distorted but complete image of the filament.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of August, A, D. 1926. 

